Gas water heater



Nov. 4 19.240 7 1,514,514

A. J. FRASER GAS WATER HEATER Filed June 13, 1923 2- Sheets-Sheet 2 9 vi. JFraer Patented Nov. 4, 1924.

UNITED STATES ALFRED J. FRASER, or EL PASO, TEXAS.

GAS WATER HEATER.

Application filed June 13, 1923. Serial No. 645,164.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED J. FRASER, acitizen of the 'UnitedStatea-residin at El Paso, in the county of El Paso and tate of Texas, have invented a Gas Water Heater, of which the following is a full and complete specification.

y invention is an improvement in water heaters or domestic stand-boilers, and relates more especially to that particular type in which the water contained in the boiler is heated directly from the fuel-burner instead of indirectly by means of a heating coil or water-back.

The primary object of m invention is to provide a stand-boiler of t is general type in which a maximum area of heating surface is presented to the combustion from the fuel-burner for the purpose of economizing consumption of the fuel as well as to facilitate heating of thewater, the internal arrangement in the present instance operating to force the hot water to the top of the boiler where it may be readily drawn off for use.

A further object of-my invention is to rovide a central combustion-chamber or drum intermediate the top and bottom of the boiler, with a plurality of vertical water circulating pipes within said chamber or drum and opening out through the ends thereof into the boiler at the upper and lower ends thereof, in connection with a lower chamber below the drum communieating with said circulating pipes, and fire tubes extending centrally through the water circulatingpipes from the bottom to the top of the boiler toincrease the water heating capacit Another object of my invention is to so connect the supplemental fire tubes to the top and bottom of the boiler that they may be readily and conveniently removed for cleaning or renewal.

Other advantages in the particular construction and arrangement of the parts constituting my improved gas water heater will hereinafter appear inthe specifications, and what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is more specifically set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings :-v

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a stand boiler or gas water heater constructed in ac-'.

cordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view, in vertical section,.of the upper part of the water heater, one-half of the drum and its head being in elevation and the flue-cap removed.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the lower part thereof.

Elke numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the views of the drawings.

In carrying out my invention the shell or casing 10 of the boiler is preferably cylindrical in shape being provided with a top 11 and bottom 12 secured thereto by rivets 13 or other suitable means providing a water-. tight joint, and in the present instance the top and bottom are cut away centrally to form circular openings which receive castings 14 and 15 forming the ends of a combustion chamber or drum 16, the latter being located at the center of the boiler and is of a diameter with respect to the diameter of the casing to leave anintervening space or annular water-chamber 17 of the desired capacity. The bottom 12 is located above the lower end of the shell or casing-the reuired' distance to form a compartment 18 or containing the heating medium, as for instance a gas-burner 19 of ordinary type,

for convenience in lighting this gasburner that part of the casing at the-front of the aforesaid compartment 18 is provided with an opening closed by a hinged Y the valved gas-pipe 23 passes. However, instead of a burner any other feel may be employed in 00111100- 110 tion with the water-heater, as will be understood. As usual in stand-boilers of thisgeneral'type the water inlet pipe 24 and outlet pipe 25 pass into water-chamber 17 through the top of the boiler, the inlet or water Supply pipe extending to near the bottom of said chamber while the outlet pipe for conveying the water from the boiler terminates at or near the top;

The castings 14 and 15*which form the ends of the combustion chamber or drum and part of the ends of the boiler are provided with central-openings 14 15, respectively, for the passage of the combustion from the gas-burner into and out of the drum, and in the present instance these castings or drumheads are of special construction whereby the one at the lower end in connection with the boiler-bottom 12 and flanged extension 26 of drum-casing forms an auxiliary Waterchamber 27 and-the one at the top provides a larger water space for the upper part of the boiler; that is to say, they are substan tially spool-shape with spaced apart dlsks .2829 and 3031 connected by a tubular central portion 32, the outer .disk of eaclr casting having a marginal channel 33 (Figs. 7 and 8) to respectively receive the inner or circular edges. of the-top and bottom of the boiler brazed or soldered therein. The shell or casing of the combustion chamber or drum is soldered or brazed to the periphery of the inner disks of the castings, and the spool-shape form of these castings not only provide for the auxiliary water-chamber 27 and increased Water space at the upper end. of the boiler but also serve as supports for certain parts hereinafter described employed for increasing'the water heating capacity of the boiler.. i

The area of heating surface subjected to the combustion passing through the drum is increased by a plurallty of water circulating pipes 34 extending vertically within said drum and preferably arranged in circular series, as shown, the ends of said pipes passing through the disks 29 and 31 forming the ends of the drum to establish communication between the auxiliary chamber 27 at the bottom of the boiler and the enlarged space at the upper end of said boiler for the rapid up-flow of the hot water from the chamber 27 which is immediately above the fuel burner. The ends of these water circulating ipes are suitably connected to the disks, as

y solder, to rovide water-tight joints. Additional heating surfaces, particularly for heating the water as it passes from chamber 27 to the upper end of the boiler, is provided for by supplemental fire tubes 38 extending from disk 30forming part of bottom 12 of boilerup through chamber 27, circulating pipes 34 and upper part of boiler to disk 28 forming art of the top of the boiler, and in order -t at these fire tubes will properly draw the combustion from fuel compartment 18 the draught through the main flue or combustion chamber 16 is retarded by avent-pipe 39 inserted in the opening 14 through the upper casting 14, said vent-pipe being closed at its lower end and provided with holes 40 of suitable size. As the Water passes from the main water-heating chamber 27 up through the circulating pipes 34said chamber is supplied from the larger chamber 17 through opening 35, and at this point there is located a drain opening 36 normally closed by a plug 37.

The products of combustion may pass from vent-pipe 39 and supplemental fire tubes 38 into the atmosphere, but to conduct the same out of the room in which the waterheater is located an extension pipe 41 may be attached to the vent-pipe and a flue-cap 42 placed over the flue-pipes with a collar 42 embracing said vent pipe and the latter provided with holes 43 opening into said cap.

Sweat that may run down the drum and water-circulating pipes 34 is retained in the bottom of. said drum by means of a lip 60 around'the-hole 15 in casting 15, to thereby prevent it from dripping on to the fuelburner. 7

Although the fire-tubes 38 may be connected to the outer disks of the castings 14 and 15 in any approved manner I prefer to employ the. connections illustrated in detail in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings; in order that said fire tubes may be readily removed for cleaning or renewal. To accomplish this the lower end of the fire tube is provided with a threaded collar 45'engaging a threaded opening 46 in the disk 30, and the upper end of said fire tube is left plain to pass upward through an opening 47 in disk 28, the lower end of said opening being contracted to closely fit the tube while the upper end is enlarged and threaded to receive a ring packing 49 and compression collar 48, the latter being threaded into the upper end of the opening. The collars 45 and 48 are each provided with a transverse notch in its outer end for turning the same. To remove a fire tube it is necessary only to unscrew it from the lower end of the boiler.

For coupling the inlet and outlet pipes 24 and 25 to the top of the boiler any ordinary form of nipple may be employed, for example such as illustrated in the drawings and designated by the numerals 50 and 51.

The operation of my improved waterheater will be readily understood from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, for the main body of water in the boiler is heated by the drum gradually while that in the chamber 27 being directly above the fueLburner is more quickly heated and rising in the. circulating pipes 34 is heated to a higher temperature on its way to the upper end of said boiler, the small in the operation of the up-flow inasmuch as the bulk of water in the chamber is practically confined therein and when heated must flow upthrough the circulating plpes 34. In this manner the water is quickly heated and conducted to the upper end of.

the boiler where it maybe drawn 01f for use, and the large area of heating surface provided by the drum, circulating pipes, fire tubes, and bottom of the boiler by greatly facilitating the heating of the water effects an economy in the burning of fuel.

Though the water heater is especially adapted for use in connection with a. gasburner, as herein illustrated, it could be used in connection with a coal-burner or stove; and in either instanc'ethe size of the drum and other heating elements could be varied to suit the capacity of the boiler and other conditions, the proportions shown in the drawings being merely approximate. I 1

Instead of retarding, the draft through the center of the drum by providing the ventpipe 39, hereinbefore referred to, I ma provide a vertical spiral deflector 55 at the center of said-drum supporting thesame by lugs 55 at the upper end thereofwhich rest upon the casting 14, the deflector extending upward through the o ening 14 in said casting, and to more e ectuallydivert the combustion bafil'e-plates- 56 are located at intervals along the deflector. The baffle-plates are semi-circular disks (as shown in Fig. 9 and areattached to the spiral deflector by lugs 56. may be placed within the fire tubes 38 if desirable. The purpose of these deflectors will be readily understood, being serviceable in increasing the draft and evaporating any sweat that may collect on the pipes.

I claim:

1. A water heater comprising a boiler, a drum located therein intermediate the top and bottom thereof, water circulating pipes extending through the drum from one end to the other and communicating with the upper and lower end portions of the boiler, and a horizontal partition in the boiler around the drum a short distance above the bottom of said boiler forming a water chamber communicating with the water circulating pipes.

'2. A water heater comprising a boiler, a drum located therein intermediate the top and bottom thereof, water circulating pipes extending through the drum from one end to the other and communicating with the upper and lower end portions of the boiler, and fire tubes extending through the water circulating pipes and through the ends of the boiler.

3. A water heater comprising a boiler, a

. drum located therein intermediate" the top and bottom thereof with flue openings lead Similar spiral deflectors, as 57,.

ing into and out of said .drumfthtough the bottom and top of said boiler, water circulating pipes extending through the drum from one end to the other. and communicating with the upper and lower end portions of the boiler, fire tubes extending through the water circulating pipes and through the ends of the boiler, anda vent-pipe 1n the upper end of the drum to retard the draft through said drum.

4. A water heater comprising a boiler, a

drum located therein intermediate the top' and bottomth'ereof with flue-openings leading into and out of said drum through the ends of the boiler, water circulating pipes extending through the drum from one end to the other and communicating with the upper and lower end portions of the boiler,

fire tubes extending throu h the water cir- :culating'pipes and throug the ends of the boiler, a vent-pipe in the upper end of the drum retarding the draft through said drum, and a flue-cap covering the upper ends ofthe fire tubes and communicating with the venty plpe.

5. A water heater comprisin a boiler, a

drum located therein intermediate the top.

and bottom thereof with flue-openings leading into and out of said drum through the ends of the boiler, an annular water-cham ber between the lower end of the drum and bottom of the boiler, water circulating pipes extending through the drum from one end to the other and communicating with said water-chamber and the upper end portions of the boiler, and I fire tubes extending through the water circulating pipes and through the. ends of the boiler.

6. A water heater comprising-a boiler, a drum located therein intermediate the to and bottom thereof with flue-openin lea ing into and out of said drum through the ends of the boiler, an annular water-chamber between the lower end of the drum and bottom of the boiler, water circulating pipes extending through the drum from one end to the other and communicating with said water chamberand the upper end portions of the boiler, fire tubes extending throu h the water circulating pipes and through t e ends of the boiler, and a vent-pipe 1n the upper flue opening retarding the draft through said drum.

7. A water heater comprising a boiler, a drum located therein intermediate the to and bottom thereof with flue-openings lea ing into and out of said drum through the ends of the boiler, an annular water-chamber the water circulating pipes and through t e ends of the boiler, a vent pipe in the upper flue opening retarding the draft through said drum, and a flue-cap around the vent pipe and covering the upper ends of the fire tubes with openings through the vent-pipe leading from said-cap 8. A water heatercomprising a boiler, a drum located therein intermediate the top and bottom thereof with fiue-openin s leading,

into and out of said drum throug the ends of the boiler, spool-shape castings formin the ends of the drum and projecting beyon the-same for connection tothe ends of the boiler, the tubular center of the castings forming the aforesaid flue-openings, and water-circulating pipes extendlng through the drum from one end to the other and communicating with the upper and lower end portions of the boiler.

9. A water heater comprising a boiler, a drum located therein intermediate the top and bottom thereof with flue-openings lead-- ing into and out of said drum throughthe ends of the boiler, spool-shape castings forming the ends of the drum and projecting beyond the same for connection to the top and bottom of the boiler, an annular water chamber between the lower end of the drum and bottom of the boiler, water circulating pipes extending through the drum from one end to the other and communicating with said water-chamber and upper end portions of the boiler, fire tubes extending through the water circulating pipes and through the spaced apart disks of the spool-shape castings, and a vent-pipe retarding the draft through the drum. g

10. A water heater comprising boiler the ends of which are provided with openings at the center thereof, a drum located in the boiler ,and having spool-shapedheads the outer disks of whichoccupy the aforesaid openings in the ends of the boiler, .a flange projecting laterally from the lower end of the drum at the inner disk of the head to provide an annular chamber immediately,

above the bottom of the boiler, water circulating p'ipes extending through the drum and inner disks of the heads thereof to connect said annular chamber with the upper end portion of the boiler, the spool-shaped heads of the drum providing central flue openingsinto and out of said drum, and a lip surrounding the flue-opening in the lower inner disks of the heads thereof to connect said annularchamber with the upper end portion of the boiler, fire tubes extending through the water circulating pipes beyond the same and through the outer disks of the spool-shaped heads of the drum, a vent-pipe at the upper end of the drum, and a flue-cap covering the outer ends of the supplemental flue-pipes, the latter having openings into said flue-cap.

ALFRED J. FRASER. 

